Measuring machine



Nov. 19, 1935. H. A. BALLARD w MEASURING MACHINE Filed Nov. 29, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet ullnillnii Nov. 19, 1935, H. A. B'ALLARD 2,021,218

MEASURING MACHINE Filed Nov. 29; 1930 e SHeets-Sheet 2 Mfkd /NVENTOR Nov. 19, 1935. BALLARD 2,021,218

MEASURING MACHINE Filed NOV. 29, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 19, 1935. V A, BALLARD V 2,021,218

MEASURING MACHI NE Filed Nov. 29, 1930 6' Sheets-Sheet 5 /Nl /ENTOR Nov. 19, 1935', H A LA 2,021,218

MEASURING MACHINE hyvE/v TOR Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNETED STATES zszigis PATENT ()FFICE The Turner Tanning Machinery Company,

Portland, Maine, a corporation of Maine Application November 29, 1930, Serial No. 499,045

75 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for measuring dimensions of pieces of work and, more particularly, of pieces of work which vary substantially as to their dimensions in various portions thereof. The invention is illustrated as embodied in a machine for measuring thickness dimensions of hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of work. It is to be understood, however, that the invention and various important features thereof may have other applications and uses.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved machine for measuring characteristics of hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of work throughout a wide range of such characteristics while maintaining a. high standard of accuracy and efliciency in the machine operations. It is also an object of the invention to provide for measurements of the extreme opposite limits of a given characteristic of the work simultaneously and the indicating of such measurements without undue complexity in the measuring and indicating mechanisms. Further objects of the invention are to provide for machine measurement of pieces of work within certain predetermined portions of the pieces of Work, which portions may be varied at the will of the operator to suit different classes of work, and to provide improvements applicable to measuring machines in general.

In accordance with methods long practised in the industry, hides and skins and other pieces of leather, when assorted by hand into various classes in accordance with their thickness dimensions, are tested for such thickness dimensions in certain well-defined portions of each hide or skin or other piece of leather. Kid and goat skins, for instance, when hand measured, are often folded along a line adjacent to or ooincident with the backbone line and then measured by running the fingers opposed to the thumb along opposite sides of the folded piece of leather adjacent to the backbone line. Again, in measuring calf skins each individual piece is usually folded along a line extending substantially at a right angle to the backbone line back (toward the butt end) of the longitudinal center of the skin. The skin thus folded is then measured by running the fingers opposed to the thumb along opposite sides of the folded portion of the skin. In both of these cases it will be noticed that the thickness dimensions are determined by reference to those portions of each hide, skin, or other piece of leather which lie adjacent to the backbone line and a c d ab distances from the marginal portions of each piece undergoing measurement. The reason for this resides in the fact that the flank and shank portions of hides and skins are thinner and of less desirable quality than portions lying closer to the backbone line. 5

For reasons given in the foregoing paragraph it is clear that hides, skins and other pieces of leather may advantageously be measured within certain restricted portions in order to obtain the best indications for assorting them into various classes with respect to any given characteristic thereof. It is a most important feature of the invention that means is provided in the illustrated machine for measuring and indicating the measurements in certainpredetermined portions Only of each hide or skin or other piece of leather being measured, Conveniently means is provided under the control of the operator for varying the portions within which measurements will be made to suit the requirements of various classes of Work. There is a further decided advantage in measuring the work within a predetermined portion only since, by so doing, the operator is not distracted or confused by measurements taken in the less desirable portions of the work.

The described means for determining the portions within which thickness measuring operations shall be performed comprising, in the illustrated construction, means under control of a Work contacting member for rendering the measurement indicating means inoperative until a predetermined portion of the front or entering end of the work has passed under work calipering elements in its movement into the machine, said means being also operative while under control by the same work contacting member, to render the indicating means inoperative for a predetermined distance from the rear or following end of the hide or skin as the latter is passing from front to'rear of the machine during measuring 40 operations. It is clear that with the operation of the means described, measurement begins some predetermined distance back from the front end of the skin or other piece of work and terminates some predetermined distance short of 5 the rear end of the skin as the latter is passing through the machine.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the means for predetermining the portion within measurements of the work are to be taken comprises a timing mechanism having connections with the indicating means operative to render the indicating means responsive and/or unresponsive to the work caliper-ing means, in combination with a work contacting member arranged to ride upon the front or entering end. of the work and to drop off of the rear or following end of the work and having connections for initiating operation of the timing mechanism and for terminating such operation. of a cam in the timing mechanism and/ or of the work contacting member the unmeasured portion at the front or entering end of the work and the unmeasured portion at the rear or following end of the work may be varied Within wide limits at the will of the operator.

In order to furnish additional guidance for the operator in assorting pieces of work in accordance with thickness dimensions thereof, means is provided in the illustrated machine for measuring and indicating the minimum and the maximum thickness dimensions in the portions measured during the measuring operation. In this way the operator is informed as to unduly thin or thick portions in a given piece of leather; This information may be such as to require reclassification of a givenpiece of work ,from that which it would ordinarily receive upon determination of its average thickness dimension according to methods commonly employed for the purpose. The indications of minimum and maximum thickness dimensions may also be utilized by the manufacturer in checking those manufacturing operations which precede the tanning operations, for instance, in the fleshing and splitting of hides and skins. Such indications as to the minimum and maximum thickness di mansions are also particularly advantageous in connection with the shaving of skins which takes place after the tanning operation .and which should be performed with the greatest care and skill if uniformity in shaving results are to be obtained.

For indicating minimum thickness dimensions of pieces of work there is provided an indicator mechanism comprising a dial and a pointer wherein the pointer is permitted to indicate progressively thinner portions of the work as the latter passes along through the measuring elements, the pointer being locked against any movement in the opposite direction so that finally the minimum. thickness dimension for the given piece of work is indicated by this dial and pointer. Preferably, also, another measurement. indicating means is provided comprising a dial and a pointer which is movable over the dial to indicate progressively thicker portions of the work and is locked against movement in the reverse direction so that any thinner portion of the work in between thicker portions is not indicated on the ness dimensions obtained by the measuring and measurement indicating means.

The provision of means for restricting thick-.

ness measurements to a predetermined portion in each hide or skin is particularly advantageous where'means is provided for ascertaining the maximum and minimum thickness dimensions of the hide or skin for assorting purposes, since in assorting hides and skins in-accordance with methods long practised in the industry, little or no'attention is paid to thickness dimensions in the'shanks and flanks of the hides or skins.

In the illustrated machine, improved connec- Through adjustment tions are provided between work calipering members and the indicating means whereby movc ment of the calipering members, in one direction at least, permits movement of the indicating means through means constantly tending'to ef-' 5 fect such movement. Conveniently, the described connections comprise a lost motion connection whereby, upon movement of the calipering members in one direction, the indicating means through motive power independent of the caliper- 10 ing members, becomes operative to indicate meas' urements performed'by the calipering members. Such an arrangement has the advantage of reducing to a minimum vibration and backlash in measuringamachines of the type disclosed. 15 "Because of the described lost-motion connec tions between the calipering and indicating means it is possible to provide for measurements upon the heaviest and the lightest grades of hides and skins without disturbing the connections be- 20 tween the indicating mechanism and the calipering members of the machine. In the illustrated construction, this most desirable result is accomplished through a manually operable memher which may be adjusted to set the calipering 5 members in accordance with the range of thickness dimensionsof the lighter or heavier class of'hides or skins to be measured. Conveniently, a dial or other indicating. means is provided in connection with the manually operable memberw so that the operator 'may be guided in hisadjustment of the latter member. Movement of the manually operable member results in spacing the calipering members a less or a greater distance from the work support over which the pieces of Work pass in passing by the 'caliperin'g members. In "this way pieces of various ranges of thicknesses are readily accommodated and accurately measured.

These andother important features of the 40 '1 invention and novel combinations of parts Will now be described in detail and then pointed out in the appended claims. 7

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view'partly in section of .a thickness measuring machine illustrating one embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line II--II of 'Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but restric to cam mechanism and related parts for controlviews, partlyin section, of the indicator mechanism shown at the upper part of Fig.1; 7

Fig. 14 is a sectional view,' on a smaller scale,

taken along the line XIV"XIV of Fig; 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 15 is a detail view of an adjustingmechanism for'the calipering wheels; I r r Fig. 16 is a detailof a clutch mechanism;

Fig. 17 is asection of the clutch mechanismllo shown in Fig. 15;

Fig, 18 is a sectional view taken along the line XVIIL-XVIII of Fig.;l6; l Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 18 with parts in difierent relations;

Fig. 20 is a. detail of parts shown in Figs. 18 and 19;

Fig. 21 is a detail view of cam mechanis 'shownin Figs. 2 to 9, inclusive; and

Fig. 22 is a detail view showing a knife edge mounting for the wheel supporting levers shown in Figs. 2 to 9, inclusive.

In the illustrated machine, which is specially designed. for measuring thickness dimensions of hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of Work, there is provided a work support or table 2 mounted upon the frame 4 of the machine. As shown, the table is made of boards although any other suitable material may be used. It has a cutaway portion at 6 (Fig. 2) in which is placed a sheet metal plate 8 having an opening at 0 through which projects a lower feed roll I2 which isfixedly secured to a shaft 54 mounted for rotation in bearings I6, i8 (Fig. 1) carried by the machine frame 4. At one end the shaft 14 is provided with a sprocket 23 over which passes a chain 22 for driving the shaft l4 .and the lower feed roll 12 continuously at uniform speed while the machine is in operation. As shown most clearly in Fig. 2, the chain 22 passes over a sprocket 24 secured to a shaft 26 which is the main shaft of the machine, said shaft carrying at its opposite end a pulley 28 to which power may be applied from any suitable source. Fixed upon theshaft 26 is a bed roll 33 (Figs. 1 and 2) mounted so as to project through an opening in the table 2 with .a portion of its periphery slightly above the plane of the work supporting surface of the table 2.

Mountedl directly above. the bed roll 31) is a plurality of calipering elements or thickness detecting members in the form of wheels 32, 34, 3t, 33 (Figs. 1 and 14) which, during the operation of the machine, contact with the piece of work passing over the bed roll to measure the thickness of the work at .a great number of points in lines extending from front to rear of the machine, the lines lying in paths traced by the calipering members or wheels during. feeding of the work.

:Incidentally the wheels 32, 3 2, 33, 38 (Figs. 1 and upon a short shaft 42 carried by ,a yoke 44 fixedly secured to a shaft 46 pivotally mounted in the machine frame 4. It will be readily understood that a piece of work may be shoved over the upper surface of the forward portion of the table 2 until it is engaged by the feed rolls l2 and 45!,

whereupon the work is fed along over the table 2 until it engages the bed roll which is constantly moving in the direction of the arrow in Fig.2. vDue to pressure of the oalipering wheels 32, 34, 36, 38 the piece of work is. pressed upon the rotating bed roll 39 and is carried along at the same rate as that imparted to the work by the feeding-in rolls I2, 43.

As indicated in the foregoing description, measurement of the thickness dimensions of pieces of work is accomplished in the illustrated machine by means of thickness detector members or calipering measuring wheels at 32, 34, 36 and 38 in co-operation with a bed roll 33. Obviously the greater the thickness dimensions of the work in the paths traced by the wheels during passage of the work through the machine the higher will the wheels be lifted upwardly away from the bed roll 30. Conversely, the thinner the work the less will each wheel be lifted from its initial position closely adjacent to the periphery of the bed roll 30. Preferably the calipering members or wheels 32, 34, 36 and 38 will be so adjusted as to be just out of contact with the bed roll 33, the arrangement being such that the thinnest pieces of leather will be properly fed through co-operation of the wheels and the bed roll 33 and accurately calipered as to thickness. For certain classes of work, .as will be hereinafter described, the calipering wheels will be initially positioned at a substantial distance from the bed roll 32. It is to be understood, however, that in various figures of the drawings the wheels are located just out of contact with the bed roll 30 and in position to engage the thinnest pieces of leather.

Upon reference to Figs. 2 to 9, inclusive, and Fig. 14, it will be observed that the calipering wheel 33 is mounted in a yoke member 53 by means of a shaft 52 to which the wheel is adapted to be fixedly connected as by a set screw not shown, the arrangement being such that the wheel 38 may be adjusted lengthwise of the shaft 52 so as to bring it closer to or to move it further away from the wheel 32 which is similarly mounted for adjustment upon its shaft 54 in a yoke member 56. When measuring small skins such as kid, goat and sheep, it may be desirable to have the wheels 32 and 38 closer together even than shown in Fig. 14 of the drawings, so as to measure thickness dimensions along lines parallel to the backbone line of the skin and not spaced too far therefrom. At the same time the wheels 34 and are calipering thickness dimensions along lines closely adjacent to the backbone line, it being undeistood that the skins will ordinarily be introduced into the machine with the backbone line parallel to and between the wheels 34 and 36. While the wheels 34 and 85 are not shown adjustable, it is clear that they may be mounted for adjustment in a manner similar to the wheels 32 and 38. The wheels 34 and 35 are each mounted in yoke members 58 and which differ from the yoke members 59 and. 56 in being narrower so that no adjustment in lateral directions is possible in .1

the illustrated construction. Conveniently the yoke members 56, 58 and are each mounted in a manner similar in all respects to the yoke member 58, the mounting of which will now be described in detail.

Upon reference to Figs. 2 to 8, inclusive, it will be-observed that the yoke 52. is mounted upon a shaft is having an eccentric portion '52 which is common for all of the yoke members 56, 5E, 58 and 53. It is to be understood that pivotal movement of the yoke members 5! 55, t8 and 66 will take place while the shaft 'i'ii and its eccentric portion i2 is stationary. Such movement of the yoke members takes place when the calipering wheels supported thereby move up or down in accordance with variations in the thickness dimensions of the work. At its front end the yoke member is connected by a link '54 to a pivot pin Iii (Figs. 2 to 9 and 14) carried by a bifurcated projection l8 integral with a sleeve Iii! which also has integral therewith a lever arm 82 to the rear end of which is connected a chain 84 (Figs. 1 and 14) To the rear ends of levers 8E3, and 92, (Fig. 1%) corresponding to lever 82, are secured other chains 92, 94 and 9's respectively. chains 84 and 94 are connected to the free ends of a balanced lever I80 (Figs. 1 and 14) supported at its center of gravity by a chain i 02. Similarly, chains 92 and 96 are connected at their upper ends to a balanced lever I54 supported at its cen- At their ends,

ter of gravity by a chain I05. As shown clearly in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the chain I02 is wound upon a spirally grooved shaft I03 from which the chain extends to a balanced lever IIO supported at its center of gravity by a chain H2 (Figsl and 2). To the other end of the lever H0 is secured the chain E00 which, between its ends has been wound around a spirally grooved shaft II4 (Fig. 1 of the drawings) similar in all respects to the spirally grooved shaft I00 of Fig. 2. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the chain H2 is wound spirally upon a spirally grooved shaft I to which one end of the chain is fixedly attached. The shaft 920 carries a pointer I2I movable over an indicator dial for indicating an average thickness of the piece of work being measured, as will hereinafter be described. As shown in Fig. 2, the shaft E20 has secured thereto a sleeve I22 having relatively large spiral grooves I24 for the reception of a chain are larger .and stronger than the chains I02, M0, N2. This chain I26, which wraps on the shaft I20 on the side opposite from chain H2, is secured at one end to the sleeve I22 and after being wound spirally on the sleeve is extended downwardly for some suitable distance and is provided with a weight or weighted member I20, this weight or weighted member being sufiiciently heavy to keep all of the chains taut .and to counterbalance all of the levers 82, B0, 88 and 00 which levers are of the lightest construction, as

will be evident upon inspection of Fig. 14.

The operation of the parts connected and controlled by the various chains mentioned will be clear upon consideration of the lever 50 and its associated parts in Fig. 2. As heretofore stated, the calipering wheel is mounted upon the yoke lever 00 which is pivotally supported upon the eccentric portion l2 of the shaft 10. When. the wheel 38 is moved upwardly by reason of a piece of work passing between the wheel and the bed roll 30, the forward endof the yoke lever 50 is raised, thus lifting the link I4 pivoted to its forward end. Since the link 14 has a slot at I30 for the reception of the pivot pin I0 upward move- .ment of the link M will not exert any upward pressure on the pivot pin IE but the lever 82 which is rigid with the projection I8 carrying the pivot pin 76 is free to move upwardly, which it promptly does under the pull of the chain 84. Similarly, when the other wheels 32, 34 and 36 are lifted various distances by the work the corresponding yoke or yoke members 56, 58, and 60 are lifted, thus permitting the corresponding levers 90, 33, and 86 respectively to move upwardly under the influence of chains 90, 04 and 02 respectively, all the chains being kept taut through the operation of the weighted member I28. It will be clear from the description that the chains and the parts carried or controlled thereby have a lost-motion connection with the wheels and their associated sup-porting levers all of which are normally stationary in their lowest positions. On the other hand, the wheels and their supporting levers are so mounted that, upon upward movement, they release the chains or connected parts for operation by the weighted member I20. It will be understood, however, that upon downward movement of the wheels 32, 34, 30, 30 the described chains and connected parts will be operated in the reverse direction by the links I4 which pull downwardly on the levers 821, 86,

83 and 90. Hence, as the calipering wheels travel along over pieces of work which vary more or less constantly in thickness along the paths traced by the wheels upon the work, the chains I02 and I06 will cause rotation in reverse directions of the shafts I08, H4, and also through chain IIZ'of the shaft I20, if provision be not made to prevent such constant reversing or oscillatory movement of these shafts.

Upon inspection of Figs. 1 and 10 to 13, inclu sive, it will be observed that the shafts I08, II4

have associated therewith pointers I40 and I42 respectively which move over the faces of indicator disks I 44, I46, respectively. If, then, the shafts and pointers were allowed to oscillate, as above described, it would be extremely difficult to read the results of the thickness measuring operations upon the indicators. For this reason means is provided for restricting the movements of the pointers so that measurementsperformed upon the work through the operation of the calipering wheels may be readily read from the indicators. It is preferred, moreover, to construct and arrange one indicator to indicate measurements of the progressively thickest portions along the paths of the associated calipering wheels. In other words, this indicator will record finally the maximum thickness of the work found along these paths while, as shown, the other indicator will record the minimum thickness of the work found along the paths of the other set of calipering wheels.

In the illustrated construction the lower indicator at the right in Figs. 1 and 10 to 15, in-

elusive, indicates the maximum thickness while the lower indicator at the left registers the minimum thicknessof the work along the paths of the respective sets of calipering Wheels. It is to be noted in this connection that the four calipering wheels in the illustrated construction are arranged in pairs, the wheels 34 and 38 being connected indirectly as described by chains 04 and 84 respectively to lever I00 from which there extends the chain I02 to the shaft I08 of the right-hand lower indicator of the machine. So, also wheels 32 and 36 are connected indirectly by chains 06 and 92, respectively, to the lever I04 which in turn is connected by chain I06 to the shaft I I4 of the left-hand lower'indicator. It follows that the maximum thickness readings are taken from measurements performed by a calipering wheel (34) which operates closely adjacent to the backbone line of the skin and by anothercalipering wheel (38) which operates along a path at a greater distance from the backbone line and on the opposite side of said line. This is true also of the measurements registered by the minimum thickness indicator at the left of the operator while facing the machine.

In order that the maximum thickness indicator may operate to register only the successively increasing thickness dimensions along the paths of the calipering wheels 34 and 38, means is provided for permitting the pointer I40 to move in onedirection only, that is, in the direction to indicate increases in the thickness dimension of the work while, at the same time, it is held against such movement as would indicate a dimension less than that previously registered in the measurement of a given. piece of work. As shown, the shaft I08 has fixed thereto two disks I48 and I50 having peripherally arranged teeth which face in opposite directions on the two disks. For 'co-operation with the disk I48 there is provided a pawl I52 pivoted upon the machine frame by a pivot member I04. For cooperation with the toothed disk I50 there is provided a pawl I56 also pivoted upon the pivot member I54, the pawls I52, I56 having upwardly extending arms I58 and I60, the arms being connected by a spring I62 which tends constantly to move the spaced arms I58, I60 toward each other into a position where their corresponding pawls I52, I56 are engaged with the teeth of the respective disks. I48 and I50. Similarly, the shaft II4 has fixed thereto disks I64 and I66 having peripherally arranged teeth which point in opposite directions on the two disks. For co-operation with the teeth of the disk I64 there is provided a pawl I68 and a corresponding pawl I16 for co-operation with the teeth of the disk I66. These pawls are pivoted upon a pivot member I12 and have arms I14, I16 respectively extending upwardly in spaced relation with respect to each other and connected by a spring I18. This spring I18 constantly tends to move the pawls I 68 and I10 to positions into engagement with respect to their associated disks I64 and I66 respectively.

For controlling the pawls I52, I56 there is provided a cam I88 adapted to contact with set screws I82, I84 in the pawl arms I58 and I60, respectively, as shown in Fig. 10, wherein both of the pawls I52, I56 are held out of engagement with their respective disks I48 and I58. Upon rotation of the cam I to a substantially vertical position, as shown in Fig. 12, the'pawls I52, I56 are in engagement with the teeth on their respective disks I48 and I50. In an intermediate position, shown in Fig. 11, pawl I56 is in engagement with one of the teeth on the disk I50 while the other pawl I52 is held out of engagement with its respective disk I48. Similarly a cam I 86 is provided for controlling the pawls I68 and I10 through contact with set screws I88, I in pawl arms I14 and I16 respectively. In the position shown in Fig. 10, the cam I86 holds the pawls I68 and I10 both out of contact with their respective toothed disk I64 and I66. Again, in Fig. 12, the cam'l86 is so positioned as to permit both pawls I68 and I10 to be in engagement with their respective toothed disks locking both of the disks against movement so that the shaft II4 cannot move in either direction. In an intermediate position the cam I 86, as shown in Fig. 11, permits engagement of the pawl I68 with the toothed disk I54 to prevent movement of the shaft II4 in one direction. It may move in the opposite direction since the pawl I10 is held out of engagement with the toothed disk I66.

To summarize, the cams I80, I86, in the positions they occupy in Fig. 10 of the drawings, operate to-ho1d their associated pawls both out of contact with respect to their corresponding disks and hence the shafts I08 and II4 are free to'rotate in either direction. Hence, thepointers I40 and I42 may oscillate with respect to the indicator disks I44 and M6 This freedom of the shafts I88, IE4 and pointers I40, I42 is provided. for during certain intervals when it is not desired to register movements of the calipering. wheel-s, even though a piece of work'is passing through between the calipering wheels and the bed roll of the machine.

In the positions of the cam members I80, I86 shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings, the pawl I56 of the righthand indicator is in a position to engage with teeth upon the disk I50, the arrangement being such that the disk I56 may move only in one direction, that is, in response to an upward movement of one or both of the calipering wheels 34, 38 when a thicker portion of the 'work passes under either or both of said wheelsi When a thinner portion passes under the wheels 34, 38, the shaft I08 and consequently its pointer I40 are prevented from reverse movement so that it is only when a portion thicker than that previously measured comes along that the pointer I40 is free to move and indicate the measurement of such thicker portion. In this way the pointer I46 is caused to register the measurement of the thickest portion of the work in the paths of the two calipering wheels 34, 38 and hence this lower indicator at the right is spoken of as the maximum thickness indicator. This does not mean that the thickest point in the paths of the calipering wheels 34 and 38 is indicated for the reasonthat there is an averaging between the movements of the wheels 34 and 38 at all times and this averaging is reflected in the movements of the pointer I48. It does mean that the two wheels 34 and 38 together operate to give a very fair estimate of the maximum thickness of different portions of a piece of leather during travel of the calipering wheels from front to rear over certain portions of the skin or other piece of leather being measured.

With respect to the cam I86 both pawls I68 and I10 are held out of contact with respect to the disks I64 and I66 in Fig. 10 so that the shaft II4 and the pointer I42 are free to oscillate dur ing a time when it is not desired to register movements of the calipering wheels 32 and 36. In Fig. 11, however, the cam I86 has moved to a position wherein the pawl I68 is in position to engage with teeth of the disk I64 while at the same time the pawl I 10 is held out of contact with respect to the disk I66. In this case the shaft H4 and its associated pointer I42 .may move in one direction only, namely, in a direction to indicate progressively decreasing thicknesses of the work. The shaft and pointer cannot move in the opposite direction to indicate an increase in thickness of the work because the pawl I68 prevents such movement.

When the shaft I I4 is prevented from rotating in a direction to register a greater thickness than the minimum so farregistered through the operation of the pawl I68, it means that the pawl.

I68 in co-operation with the disk I64 is resisting movement which would normally take place due to the effect of the weight or weighted member I28. When the pawl I56 prevents rotation of the disk I50 in a direction to indicate a lesser thickness than that so far registered through the co-operation of the pawl I56 and the disk I50 the weight of the calipering wheels 34 and 38 and of their associated parts must be borne by the links and chains which form the connections between the wheels Hand 38 and the pointer shaft I08. Hence, in neither case is there any injury to the mechanism as a result of the failure of the shafts I88 and II4 to follow the up and down movements of their respective sets of calipering wheels.

Preferably and as shown, the pointer shafts I68 and II4 will be locked in their respective indicating positions at some predetermined time, for instance, at a, definite distance from the end of the piece of leather being measured. Hence, the cams I 86 and I86 are caused at the proper time to move to substantially vertical .positions, as shown in Fig. 12, in which case both the maximum thickness pointer and the minimum thickness pointer are locked in indicating positions.

I The reason for this provision for locking the indicator pointers resides in the fact that hides, skins, and pieces of leather made from hides and skins all vary considerably in their thickness dimensions throughout substantial areas of each piece of work. Hence, it has been found advantageous in measuring a piece of leather for its thickness dimensions in the operation of assorting the work into various piles in accordance with the thickness dimensions thereof to take the measure of each piece of work in a selected area and not over the whole piece of work. "It is a fact that the best portions of 2. hide or skin lie away from the marginal portions of the hide or skin and upon each side of the backbone line of the hide or skin beginning a variable but substantial distance from the head end of the hide or skin and ending at a variable but substantial distance from the butt end of the same hide or skin. In other words, the marginal portions of the'hide'or skin and, particularly, the flank and shank portions are, in general, much thinner than the back portions of the same hide or skin. On the other hand, the head and neck portions are sometimes thicker than the body portions lying along each side of the backbone line but are not of as good a grade of leather. Hence, in asserting hides, skins, or pieces of leather for thickness, measurement should be made in that part of the hide, skin or piece of leather which contains leather of the most desirable quality and substance. Therefore, the illustrated machine is so constructed and' arranged as, to take measurements within a predetermined area of the hide, skin or piece of leather.

Conveniently, the upper feeding-in roll 40 is utilized as a controller member, in conjunction with a controller cam hereinafter described, for

3 determining operations of the indicator mechanism described in the foregoing paragraph. As already stated, the roller 49 (Fig. 2) is mounted in a yoke 44 pivoted upon the pivot shaft 46. See cured to the yoke 44 is a lever arm 2% also turning aboutthe axis of the pivot shaft 46. Pivotally connected to the upper end of the lever arm 2%. is a link 292, the other end of which is pivotally connected to a lever 2G4. pivoted at 20.6

inthe frame of the machine, the link 202 being ing movement about a pivot 21B supported in 1 is operative under certain conditions to holda the machine frame. In Fig. 2 of the drawings the carrier 2M is held against a stud Ell by a spring 2l8. At'its lower end the carrier 2 M; carries a pin 220 which is adapted to be engaged by a shoulder 222 on the trip lever 218, a spring 225 tending to hold the shoulder 222 against the pin 226 at all times. The arrangement is such that the trip lever 2m turns about the pin 22-flas a pivot as it is shoved downwardly and to. the right by the link 258. As shown, the trip lever 2!!) has a projecting arm 224 which is arranged to move along a cam surface 225- on one arm of a clutch controllever 22.31, the far end of which a clutch pawl 239, n (Figs. 1 1 9 and 20) in 111-.

operative position against the pressure of a spring 2-3I backed by an adjustable plug"2.33 The relative positionsof the parts shown in Fig. 180011118.-

\ spond to the showing of parts in Fig. 2 while .9 cq respcndsf o he positio v o e p ts in Fig. 3*where the trip lever M0, 224 through its operation of the cam surface 226 :of the 7 clutch controlling lever 228 has lifted the operathrough the described connections, rotating the pawl 230, 232 when released by the clutch lever 228 is moved to operative or clutching position ,by v the spring 23l (Figs. 18 and 19). In this connection it is pointed out that pawl members 230 10 and 23.2. move together at all times, being joined together by a pin 231, having a square sectioned part for holding the pawl member 232 against rotation with respect to the pawl member 230 (Fig. 20). V 15 When clutching takes place, as'just described, a cam wheel 236' (Figs. 2 to 8, inclusive) which is normally loose on the shaft 238 is clutched thereto, Shaft 23.8 is constantly driven by means which will be described later in this specifica- 2Q tion. Contacting with the periphery of the cam member 236 is a cam roll 24!] carried by a lever Z42pivoted at 244 upon the machineframe and having'at its other end a socket 245 (Fig. 2) for reception, of a ball-ended portion of a. rod 248, 25

the upper end of which passes slidably through a perforation in a lever 250, nuts being provided on the end of the rod 248 for holding it connected to the lever 250.

This lever 250 is shown in Figs. 1 2, and 10 to 30 13, inclusive. It is shown in Figs. 1 and 10 secured upon a pivot shaft 252 j-ournaled in the frame of the machine. Extending beyond the pivot point is an arm of the lever 25lldesignated by reference character 254 to the end of which 35 is pivotally connected a link 256, the link being extensible, in a well-known manner and pivoted at its .other end to. a. lever 258 which, as shown in Figs/1 and 1 0, is secured upon a pivot shaft 250; journaled in the frame of the machine. As 40 shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 10 to 13, inclusive, the

pivot Shafts 252 and 260 carry the cams I and s j 86, respectively, already described. 7 7 After each, piece of work has passed through the illustrated measuring machine the indicator 45 pointers MD, [42 will be found looked as, shown in'Fig. 12,. Hence, when a new piece of work W is introduced under the feeding-in roll 40, the clutch controlling lever 228 (Figs. 2 and 3) is operated in the. manner just described to initiate 50 throwing in of the clutch'whereby the cam wheel 235 is rotated so that finally a high part or card 2'10 of. the cam wheel 236 operates to lift the cam roll 24'! thereby operating the lever 242 and, 7

camsv LS2 and I86 (Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive) from their positions ofvertical alinement (Fig. 12 to ditioning the indicator-mechanism for indicating 60 operations with the piece of work then in the machine.

' Beyond the high part 21b of the cam w en 236 is a middlecam portion made up of peripheral parts of the cam .wheel 235 and adjustable cam 5 V blocks 212 and 214. When the roll240 drops down from the high part 210 of the camwheel i 2,3 6 on to; the middle cam portioir'formed by the periphery of the cam wheel 236 and the blocks 212 and 214', the levers 250 and 258 (Figs. l and '7 10 to 1 3, inc1usive). are 'moved'frorn the position shown in Fig; 10 to that'shown in Figs. 11 and: 13 wherein, the. right-hand pawl I55 of the right hand indicator and the left-handpawl l68fof the left-hand indicator are caused to engage teeth of their corresponding disks I59 and I64, respectively, to lock the corresponding pointer shafts I 08 and I I4 against rotation in one direction only. In other words, the shaft W8 is still free to rotate in a clockwise direction in response to the presence of progressively thicker portions of work while the pointer shaft H4 is still free to rotate in a counterclockwise direction in response to the presentation of progressively thinner portions in the work passing under the corresponding calipering wheels.

In passing, from the positions shown in Fig. 10 to those shown in Fig. 11 the cams I and we move just far enough to release the pawls I56 and #63 to the action of the corresponding spring 62 or Hi8 without releasing the other pawl of each set. The second pawls E52 and Ilil are released only when the cams I 8!; and I assume the vertical position shown in Fig. 12, which takes place as will be hereinafter described.

After the cam wheel 236 is clutched to the shaft 238 upon raising the clutch controlling lever 228 in the manner above described, the said cam wheel rotates in a clockwise direction (Figs. 2 to 8, inclusive), until the clutch dog 230, 232 gets around to the position shown in Fig. 6 where the end of a lever 255i] engages with the projecting end of the clutch dog 232 and causes unclutching of the cam wheel 236 while the roll Ml) of the lever 242 is still resting on the middle cam surface of the cam wheel 236. Conveniently, the lifting of the lever 228 to release the clutch dog 232 causes movement of the operative end of the lever 280 into position to engage the dog 232 to unclutch the cam wheel from the shaft 238. As long as the cam wheel 236 remains in the position shown in Fig. 6, the leather passing under the calipering means is measured and the measurement indicating operation is continued until the rear end of the piece of leather passes away from under the feeding-in roll 40, as shown in Fig. 7. Measurement of the work may continue after roll 40 has dropped off the rear end of the work as will be hereinafter explained. As soon as the roll drops off of the leather (Fig. '7), the link 2518 and the levers 2H} and 228 return to the positions shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the lever 280 is moved by a spring 282 (Figs. 2 to 8, inclusive) to disengage the end of the clutch dog When this happens the cam wheel 236 is again clutched to the shaft 238 and is rotated until the clutch dog 232 is again engaged by the end of the clutch controlling lever 228 as shown in Fig. 2. During part or all of this last travel of the cam wheel 23% the roll 249 is on a low part of the cam wheel 236 and as a result all of the pawls I52, I56, I68 and I'IU (Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive) are engaged to lock the indicator shafts Hi8 and H4 in final indicating position. It is to be understood that measurement of all or of a portion of the rear end of the piece of work, which extends between the feed-in roll 40 and the bite of the calipering wheels at the time the roll 40 drops off the rear end of the work, is determined by adjustment of cams 27B, 212 and 214 on cam' wheel 236. No measurement may be taken of certain parts of the work since, although the calipering wheels are responsive to variations in the thickness of the work, the indicators, as stated, may be locked against all movement. Furthermore, they remain locked until the entrance of a fresh piece of work under the feed-in roll 40 has caused clutching of the cam wheel 23% and travel of said cam wheel from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 5 at which time the cam roll 249 rides up on the high part or cam Bit of the cam wheel, thereby unlocking the indicator shafts IE5 and H4 (Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive) so that they may become responsive to the movements of the calipering wheels. Since the high cam block 2H3 is adjustable on the cam wheel 235 it is clear that adjustment may be made of the distance through which the cam wheel 23% will rotate after being clutched to the shaft 238 before the cam block are causes release of the pointer shafts M8, lie. This distance traveled by the cam wheel 236 determines also the amount of hide, skin or leather that is fed in beyond the feed-in roll 453 before any actual measurement takes place. In other words, a predetermined amount of a given piece of work is fed into the machine before measurement starts, for during this time the pointer shafts 9%, I54 are locked, having been left in that condition at the end of the measuring operation on the preceding piece of work. It is to be understood in this connection that the cam wheel 23$ is driven at a speed which bears a predeterminedrelation to the speed of the feed-in rolls i2, 49 and the bed roll 3% with which the calipering wheels co' operate, the feed-in roll I2 and the bed roll 30 being positively driven at the same speed through the sprocket wheels 28, 2 3 and the chain 22. It is clear, therefore, that in the illustrated machine actual measuring operations may be restricted to a predetermined area located close to or at considerable distances from both the front and rear edges of the pieces of work.

It is sometimes desirable to shorten very materially the distance that a given piece of work travels after entering under the feed-in roll so before measurement begins. For instance, upon small skins, such as kid and sheep, the described distance may be reduced to a minimum, in the illustrated machine, since otherwise the length dimension of the area reserved for measurement would be too small for satisfactory results. In other words, while calf skins, which measure, in some cases, five or siX feet from the head end to the butt end, may commonly have measurements start a foot and a half from the front end of the skin and cease at approximately the same distance from the, rear end of the skin, it is clearly impractical to employ the same distancesin measuring operations upon a small kid skin which may not be over two and one-half feet in its total length, from the head end to the butt end. For this reason the cams on the cam wheel 238 of the illustrated machine may be so arranged that the range of non-measurement at the entering end is from 0 to 14 inches and at the departing end of the skin the range is from 3 to14 inches, where the distance between the roll ii) and the calipering wheels is 14 inches.

By slowing up the rotation of the cam wheel 236 with respect to the driving shaft which operates the work feeding means, accomplished in the illustrated machine by varying the driving connections between the main driving shaft 26 and the shaft 233, provision may be made for a much wider range of unmeasured work at the entering end of the work and also an increase in range at the departing end of the work. Upon reference to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be observed that the shaft is provided with a sprocket wheel 2% fixedly secured thereto and around which passes a chain 2&2. t its upper end the chain 292 is engaged with a sprocket 2% having a hub portion which is normally freely rotatable on an enlarged portion of the shaft 238. As

to the shaft part 2% by a key 293 shown pivoted at 3.6%? to a collar which isv movable lengthwise of the shaft portion 295 but which is keyed to the shaft by the body portion of the key 2915' i which is located within the key groove 3nd. and which is movable in the groove lengthwise thereof upon shifting of the collar 362'. If the collar 302 be shifted from the position shown in Fig. l to a position where it abuts against a stationary collar 3% the end portion of the key 298 will then engage in a slot 3538, in the'hub of a large sprocket wheel 3 i 8 in which case the large sprocket wheel 35 will serve as the driving means for the shaft 238,,the sprocket wheel 3 l 6 being driven by a chain 3J2 which passes around a sprocket wheel 3! (Fig. l) xed to the shaft 2 5. Since. the sprocket wheel ti l is of the. same size as the sprocket wheel zoo, it does not appear in Fig. 2 of the drawings. It will be readily understood that, when the collar 392 is moved to the left in Fig. 1, the shaft 238 is driven at a decreased speed by the large sprocket wheel am. as compared with its rate of speed when the smaller sprocket wheel 29% serves as the driving connec. tion with the power shaft 25. As before stated, slowing up of the shaft 238 and hence of the cam wheel 236 will result in widening the range of the unmeasured portions at the front and at the rear ends of the piece of work going through the machine. When the sprocket wheel Bill is in the driving means for cam wheel 235, the range of non-measurement at the entering end of the work is 0 to 26 inches and at the departing end of the work the range is from 0 to 1d inches, where the distance between the roll, 53 and the calipering wheels is 14 inches. I

In order to feed short skins more certainly and uniformly, the distance between the feed-in roll.

46 and the calipering wheels may be shortened by removing from the machine a cotter pin 32%} (Fig. '1) and also the shaft 42 and the feed-in roll M1 and then replacing these parts after the yoke 64 of the feed-in roll lil has been repositioned in closer proximity to the calipering wheels, as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings.

When the feed-in roll ii; is moved tothe position of Fig. 9, the lower feed-in roll i2 is moved with its shaft and sprocket wheel to the empty bearing shown at 322 (Fig. 2). Before these'changes are made the metal table piece 8 is removed and then replaced in reversed relation so that the opening it (Figs. 2 and 9) is again positioned over the lower feed-in roll 52. In addition to the changes already made, the linkfizlt (Figs. 2 and 9 at the upper end of the lever arm 2B6- its inner pivot transferred so as to con- .nect with the upper end (Fig. 9) of the lever 22% 10 inches, when the large sprocket wheel 3 I d (Fig.

1) is part of the driving means for cam wheel 236 (Fig. 2).

As already described, means is provided, in the illustrated machine, for indicating the average thickness dimension of the pieces of work subjected to measuring operations. The chain. H2

(Figs. 1 and 2) is wound spirally around, the

2,021,218 shown in, Fig. l, the sprocket wheel 29A is splined spirally grooved sh ft I28, through the combined operation of" chains Hi2, i136 and their respective shafts Hi8 and H 2, so. that upon rotation ofthe shaft i2t the pointer iZi' will be caused to; move for indicating purposes over the face of the indicator dial I28. This average thickness, as determined in the illustrated machine, is not an averaging of the thickness dimensions of portions of the work which, at a given'instant, are under the measuring wheels. The average thickness indicated by the pointer l2l is an average of the maximum thickness obtained: by the pointer Mil on the pointer shaft Hi8 and of the minimum thickness obtained by the pointer M2 on the pointer shaft lit. In all probability, the maximum indication was obtained at a point quite difierent from the. point of minimum thickness so that the two points have norelation't-o. each other so far as the time of their determination through the calipering wheels ofthe measur- H ing machine is concerned. It is considered, however,,that the averaging, of thickness dimensions obtained in the manner described is a very desirable and accurate measure, from the practical standpoint, of the thickness dimension of the piece of work, particularly where the area'within which measurements are made is restricted to the best portions of the work in some such manner as that described herein. Obviously it would not be possible to obtain a fair average measurement of the thickness dimensions of the piece of work if the thinnest point of the flank were measured and averaged with the measurement of the thickest part of the head or of the butt end of the piece of work. Hence, the mechanism by which measurement of the thickness dimensions is restricted to a predetermined'area of i the best parts of hides, skins and pieces of leather constitutes a really important feature of the invention.

The illustrated machine is so constructed that.

different classes or kinds of work may be measured without the necessity of providing anum ber of different dials for pieces of work of Va rious ranges of thicknesses. Furthermore, the, construction is such that the pointer never makes more than one complete revolution in registering the greatest measurements. for which the machine is designed. In order that. the difficulties of the situation may be clearly under-' stood it ispointed out that kid and goat skins vary in a range of from seven to forty-two thou;

sandths of aninch, sheepskins from twenty to sixty thousandths of an inch, and that calf skins will commonly vary in'thickness from thirty to ninety thousandths of an inch, while heavier skins, such as kip and light cattle hide, range in thickness from fifty to two hundred thousandths of an inch. On the other hand, kip

skins which have been shaved vary in thickness be measured by providing a dial with,indicating marks from zero to two hundred it is clear that the divisions or indicating marks would be' crowded so closely together as to render reading of the indicator more diflicult and time-consuming. Such an arrangement, moreover, is not soaccurate as that in which the movements of the indicator means are exaggerated with respect to the movements of the oalipering means. In the latter case reasonable care andv accuracy in the 75 manufacture of machine parts is all that is necessary whereas, if the movements of the pointer were restricted to very fine gradations to indicate differences in thickness, the machine parts would have to be made with the utmost care and accuracy, thus contributing to the expensiveness of the machine. Accordingly, the illustrated machine is provided with means for setting the calipering mechanism with respect to the indicating means for various classes of work in which the ranges of thickness dimensions overlap each other. This adjustment of the calipering and indicating mechanisms is made without disturbing the connections of the indicating mechanism to the calipering elements of the machine. As stated in the foregoing description the yoke members 55, 53, 53 and 6t] (Fig. 14) which support the calipering wheels 32, 34, 36 and 38 are each mounted at their rear ends upon a shaft Hi having an eccentric portion 12. Secured to the shaft 12 is a hand lever 338 (Fig. 15) having at its free end a pointer 332 adapted to move over a scale with indicating characters, as shown at 334. Secured to the hand lever 339 is a knurled or notched wheel 33% for operating a set screw 338 so that the hand lever 33%] may be secured in adjusted position as determined by reference to the scale numbers on the indicator dial 334. If the machine is to be utilized in measuring shaved kips, for example, the hand lever 330 will be moved upwardly in Fig. 15 to-an indicator number which represents a thickness somewhat less than 20 which is the minimum thickness of any of the shaved kips to be measured. Upon thus moving the hand lever 330, the calipering wheels 32, 3 35, 33 will all be lifted upwardly away from the bed roll at through rotation of the eccentric portion 12 of the shaft 10. This spacing of the calipering wheels with respect to the bed roll must not be too great,

'otherwise the wheels will not press the piece of work onto the bed roll 36 with sufficient pressure to insure proper feeding of the work or proper movement of the wheels in response to the thickness of the work. Upward or downward movement of the wheels during the described adjustment does not affect in any way the indicator pointers l2i, Mil, I 32 (Figs. to 13, inclusive). Hence the pointer remains at zero on the dial during such adjustment. Since the pointer on the dial 123(Fig. 1) remains at zero during adjustments of the calipering means effected by the lever 3353 (Fig. it is clear that an adjustment of the calipering means may be made preliminarily to measuring operations upon leathers of the greatest range of thicknesses.

This'is true for the reason that, through hand lever 330, a selected portion of the thickness, measured in fractions of an inch, is placed on the dial 334 (Fig. 15) by the pointer 332 which is part of the hand lever 338. Taking the thickest stock, for which a weighting machine will ordinarily be calipered, as having a range from one hundred twenty to two hundred fifty thousandths of an inch, the pointer 332 (Fig. 15) will be set at 100 while the pointer on dial I23 (Fig. 1) remains at zero. Hence the dial 23 will have to indicate only the measurement from twenty to one hundred-fifty thousandths of an inch on stock of a range of one hundred twenty to two hundred-fifty thousandths of an inch. If it is desired to know the actual. measurement of the thickness dimensions of pieces of work in thousandths of an inch it is necessary only to add, to the indicated measurement, the number to which the hand lever 33!] (Fig. 15) has been set. Ordinarily in assorting by hand pieces of leather of whatever class, tanners place the pieces in piles designated by'terms well known in the industry such as light, light medium, medium, medium heavy, heavy, very heavy. Hence, it is proposed, to use, in connection with the indicator dial I23, markers 34G bearing characters L, LM, M, MH, etc. (Fig. 1) and adjustable upon the dial in accordance with the requirements of the individual manufacture. Where these arbitrary markers are used it will not be necessary to make any calculations if the hand lever 330 (Fig. 15) beused to adjust the machine to different grades of work. Each manufacturer may have the indicator mechanism so set as to meet his requirements, by passing through the machine various pieces of work of known thickness belonging to the various grades into which he wishes to divide his manufactured product. If his standard light medium kip skin be placed in the machine, the pointer I2! will move to a certain position on the indicator dial I23 and to the pointer in such position the marker LM will be adjusted. He will obtain the positions for his other markers in a similar manner.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings the levers 82, 86, 88 and 89 are all mounted at their forward ends upon the shaft 8|. In Fig. 22 there is shown another mounting for these levers upon a knife edge 354 for the sake of greater accuracy and delicacy in the movement of the parts.

In operating the illustrated machine a piece of work is shoved over the table 2 until it is gripped between the feed-in rolls l2 and 40. Thereafter the work is fed by the rolls until it reaches the calipering wheels 32, 34, 33, 33 and the bed roll 38 which is'power driven. As soon as the work enters beneath the feed roll 48, the timing mechanism comprising the cam wheel 236 is set in motion to unlock the indicating means which was locked toward the end of the measuring operation on the preceding piece of work. Subsequently the indicating means is rendered operative through the operation of the same cam member to indicate measurements of the work by the calipering wheels as the work passes along between said wheels and the bed roll. When the rear end of the work passes the roll 40 so that the latter drops therefrom the timing mechanism is rendered operative to control the indicating means in such a way as to prevent any further measurement of a predetermined portion at the rear or following end of the work. In other words, measurement of a piece of work is taken only in a predetermined portion at some definite distance from the front and rear ends. Hence, the operator is required to observe the indicating means only during measurement of the predetermined portion intermediate between the ends of the piece of work where the best quality of leather is found. The operator watches the indicating either the maximum or minimum thickness dimension, the operator may consider it advisable to classify the piece of work differently from the class indicated by the averaging pointer.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

. 1'. In a machine for measuring operations upon hides, skins and pieces of leather, a support for a piece of wcrkto be measured, means for caliper ing a dimension of a piece of work on the sup-' port, indicating means, connections between the calipering means and the indicating means for controlling the latter from the former, a single work-contacting member, and connections between said work-contacting member and the indicating means to cause the indicating means to perform indicating operations with respect to a predetermined intermediate portion only of the Work.

2. In a measuring machine, a support for a piece of work to be measured, means for calipering a dimension of a piece of work on the support, indicating means, connections between the calipering means and the indicating means for controlling the latter from the former, a member arranged to contact with the work so asto be controlled thereby, and connections between the ing a dimension of a piece of work on the support,

indicating means, connections between the calipering means and the indicating means for controllingthe latter from the former, a member arranged to ride upon the entering end of the piece of work and to drop off the rear end thereof during passage of the work through the machine, and connections between the member and the indicating means whereby the time of operation of the indicating means in response to the movements of the calipering means is controlled by the member in its described movements at both ends of the piece of work. I

4. In a measuring machine, a support for a piece of work to be measured, means for, caliper" ing a dimension of a piece of work on the support, indicating means, connections between the cali- ,pering' means and the indicating means for controlling the latter from the former, and a member arranged to contact with the work so as to be controlled by both the entering and departing ends of the piece of work during its passage through the machine, and connections between the member and the indicating means to cause anioperative or an inoperativecondition of the indicating means and thus control the response- .of'the indicating means to the movements of the calipering means at both ends of .the piece of work undergoing measurement.

5. In a measuring machine, a support for a piece of Work to be measured, means for calipering a dimension of piece of work on the support,

indicating means, connections between the calipering means and the indicating means for controlling the latter from the former, and a single front end of the piece of work at-which the indicating means shall become responsive to the callpering means and also the distance from the rear end of the piece of work at which the indicating "means shall cease to be responsive to the caliperative to determine the time ofoperation of the indicating means, whereby the indicating means operates only with respect to certain predetermined portions of the work. 1

7. In a machine for measuring dimensions of hides, skins, and pieces of leather, a support for a piece of work, means for calipering dimensions of the piece of work during relative movement between the work and the work calipering'means,

indicating means, connections between the indit eating means and the calipering means effective to cause the former to be responsive to the latter, and means comprisinga workcontrolled niemberfor preventing indicating operations for a predeter mined distance at the front or entering end of the Work and also at the rear end thereof whereby indicating operations are restricted to an intermediate portion between the ends of the work.

8. In a machine for 'measuring thickness di mensions of hides, skins, and pieces of leather,

a support for a piece of work, means for calipering l;

thickness dimensions of the piece of work during relative movement between the 'work and tthe work calipering means, indicating means, connections between the indicating means and the calipering means effective to cause the former to be responsive to the latter, and means for ren dering the indicating means unresponsive to the movements of the calipering means while the latter is in contact with predetermined portions at the front or entering end and at the rear end of the piece of work whereby indicating operations are restricted to an intermediate portion of the work. 7 v

9. In a machine for measuring thickness dimensions of hides, skins, and piecesof leather; a support for a piece of work, means for calipering thickness dimensions of the piece of work during relative movement between the work and the, work calipering means, indicating means, connections between the indicating means and the calipering means effective to cause the former to be responsive to the latter, andmeans comprising a work controlled member for rendering the indicating means unresponsive to the movements of the calipering means while the latter is in contact with predetermined portions at the front or entering end and at the rear or following end of the piece of work whereby indicating operations are restricted/to an intermediate portion of the work. i

- 10. In a measuring machine, a support for a 7 piece of work to be measured, means for caliper- Y ing a dimension of a piece of work'on i-hesupport, indicating means, connectionsbetween the caliperingmeans and the indicating means for operating the latter from the former, means for looking the indicating means in indicating position and against movement by the calipering means, said locking means being also movable to inoperative position to release the indicating means to operation by the calipering means, and means having connections with the locking means to operate the latter and controlled by the work for determining what portions of the work at both the entering and the rear or following ends of the work shall remain unmeasured during the passage of the work through the machine.

11. In a measuring machine, a support for a piece of work to be measured, means for calipering a dimension of a piece of work on the support, means for causing relative movement between the work and the work calipering means, indicating means, connections between the calipering means and the indicating means for operating the latter from the former, means for locking the indicating means in indicating position, said locking means being also movable to inoperative position to release the indicating means to operation by the calipering means, and a member controlled by the work for determining the distance from the front or entering end of the work at which the indicating means is unlocked and also the distance from the rear end of the work at which the indicating means is again locked in indicating position.

12. In a machine for measuring thickness dimensions of hides, skins, and pieces of leather, a support for a piece of work, means for calipering thickness dimensions of the piece of work, means for causing relative movement between the work and the work calipering means, indicating means, connections between the indicating means and the calipering means effective to cause the former to be responsive to the latter, and a member controlled by the work for causing the indicating means to perform indicating operations with respect to a predetermined portion only of the work spaced from the entering end of the work and bearing a definite relation to the rear or following end of the same piece of work.

13. In a machine for measuring thickness dimensions of hides, skins, and pieces of leather, a support for a piece of work, means for calipering thickness dimensions of the piece of work, means for causing relative movement between the work and the work calipering means, indicating means, connections between the indicating means and the calipering means efiective to cause the former to be responsive to the latter, said indicating means comprising a dial and a pointer, pawls to lock or unlock the pointer, a work contacting member, and means controlled by said work contacting member and comprising connections to said pawls for causing the indicating means to perform indicating operations with respect to a predetermined intermediate portion only of the work.

14. In a machine for measuring thickness dimensions of hides, skins, and pieces of leather, a

'support for a piece of work, means for calipering thickness dimensions of the piece of work, means for causing relative movement between the work and the work calipering means to pass the work by the work calipering means, indicating means, connections between the indicating means and the calipering means effective to cause the former to be responsive to the latter, means for rendering the indicating means inoperative while the calipering means is in contact with a predetermined portion at the front or entering end of the work whereby indicating operations are restricted to the portion of the work back of the predetermined unmeasured portion at the entering end of the work, and means comprising an adjustable cam for varying the extent of the unmeasured portion at the entering end of the work.

15. In a machine for measuring thickness dimensions of. hides, skins, and pieces of leather, a support for a piece of work, means for calipering thickness dimensions of the piece of work, means for causing relative movement between the work and the work calipering means to pass the work by the work calipering means, indicating means having connections with the calipering means effective to cause the former to be responsive to the latter, a timing mechanism, connections between the timing mechanism and the indicating means to render said means responsive or unresponsive to the calipering means, and a work controlled member having connections with the timing mechanism, said Work controlled member being arranged to ride upon the front or entering end of the work and to drop off of the rear or following end of the work to initiate and to terminate, respectively, the operation of the timing mechanism whereby the indicating means is unresponsive to a predetermined portion at the front or entering end of, the work and to a predetermined portion at the rear or following end of the work.

16. In a machine for measuring thickness dimensions of hides, skins, and pieces of leather, a support for a piece of work, means for calipering thickness dimensions of the piece of work, means for causing relative movement between the work and the work calipering means to pass the work by the work calipering means, indicating means having connections with the calipering means effective to cause the former to be responsive to the latter, a timing mechanism, connections between the timing mechanism and the indicating means to render said means responsive or unresponsive to the calipering means, a work controlled mem be!" having connections with the timing mechanism, said work controlled member being arranged to ride upon the entering end of the work and to drop off of the rear or following end of the work to initiate and to terminate, respectively, the operation of the timing mechanism whereby the indicating means is unresponsive to a predetermined portion at the front or entering end of the Work and to a predetermined portion at the rear 1 or following end of the work, and means for varying the extent of the predetermined unmeasured portion at the front and at the rear or following end of the work.

17. In a machine for measuring thickness diu mensions of hides, skins, and pieces of leather, a support for a piece of work, means for calipering thickness dimensions of, the piece of work, indicating means having connections with the calipering means effective to cause the former to be responsive to the latter, a timing mechanism, connections between the timing mechanism and the indicating means to render said means responsive or unresponsive to the calipering means, a work controlled member having connections with'the timing mechanism, said work controlled member being arranged to ride upon the entering end of the work and to drop off of the rear or following end of the work to initiate and to terminate respectively the operation of the timingmechanism whereby the indicating means is unresponsive to a predetermined portion at the front or entering end of the work and to a predetermined portion at the rear or following end of the work, and means for varying the extent of the predetermined, unmeaspiece of work.

7 means effective to cause the former to be responsive to the latter, a timing mechanism, connections between the timing mechanism and the indicating means to render said means responsive or unresponsive to the calipering means, a work controlled member having connections with the timing mechanism, said work controlled member being arranged to ride upon the entering end of the a work and to drop off of the rear or following end of the work to initiate and to terminate respectively the operation of the timing mechanism whereby the indicating means is unresponsive to a predetermined portion at the front or entering end of the work and to a predetermined portion at the rear or following end of. the work, and means for varying the extent of the unmeasured 'portionrat the rear or following end of the piece of work.

19. In a machine for measuring thickness dimensions of hides, skins, and pieces of leather, a support for a piece of work, means for calipering thickness dimensions of the piece of work, indicating means having connections with the calipering means eiiective to cause the former to i be responsive to the latter, a timing mechanism,

connections between the timing mechanism and the indicating means i or rendering the indicating means responsive and unresponsive to the calipering means, said timing mechanism comprising a cam, power means for operating the cam, said .cam being adjustable to vary the time of operation of the timing mechanism with respect to the indicating means, and a work controlled member arranged to ride upon the front or entering end of the work and to drop oii or" the rear or following end of the work and having connections for initiatingoperation of the power means and for terminating operation of the power means whereby the indicating means is rendered unrespon- Give to the calipering means while the latter is in contact with a predetermined portion at the front or entering end of the work and also to another predetermined portion at the rear or following end of the work.

20. In a measuring machine, a support for a piece of work to be measured, means for calipering a dimension of a piece of work on the support, indicating means, connections between the calipering means and the indicating means for operating the latter from the former, means'for locking the indicating means in indicating position when the piece of work has arrived at a predetermined position with respect to the calipering means, means arranged to be controlled by the work for causing operation of the locking means, and a timing mechanism interposed between the locking means and the work controlled means for determining the time of operation of the locking means. a

21. In a measuring machine, a support for a piece of work to be measured, means for calipering a dimension of apiece of work on the support, indicating means, connections between the calipering means and the indicating means for operatingthe latter frorn'theiormer, means for determined position with respect to the calipering 1 means. timing mechanism, connections between the timing mechanism and the locking means,

and a work controlled member having connections with the timing mechanism to initiate operation of the latter so that the operation of the locking means is controlled by the piece of work undergoing measurement.

22. In a measuring machine, a support for a piece of work to be measured, means for calipering a dimension of a piece of work on the support,

indicating means, connections between the cali-' i pering means and the indicating means for operating the latter from the former, means for locking the indicating means in indicating position 1 23. In a measuring machine, a support for a piece of work to be measured, means for calipering a dimension of a piece of work on the support, indicating means, connections between the calipering means and thefindicating means for operating the latter from the former, means for locking the indicating means in indicating position when the piece of work has arrived at a predetermined position with respect to the caliperingimeans, a timing mechanism comprising a cam having connections with said locking means, and a work controlled member for initiating operation of the cam so that the time of operations of the locking means is also controlled by the Work, said cam being adjustable to vary the time of operation of the locking means whereby the: distance of the end of the work from the calipering means at the timeof operation of the locking means may be predetermined by the operator.

24. In a measuring machine, a support for a piece of work to be measured, means for calipering a dimension of a piece of work on the support, indicating means, connections between the calipering means and the indicating means for operating the latter from the former, means for lock ing the indicating means in indicating position,

said locking means being. also movable to inoperative position to release the indicating means to the operation of the calipering means, a member arranged to be lifted by the entering end of the work and to drop off of the rear or departing end. of the work, and a timing mechanism having connections with said locking means, said work contacting member having connections with the timing mechanism to initiate operation thereof when the work contacting member rides upon the entering end of the workand for terminating operation of the timing mechanism when the work passes from under the work contacting member.

25. In a measiu'ing machine, a support for a piece of work to be measured, means for calipering adimension of a piece of work on the support,

indicating means, connections between the cali pering means and the indicating means for operating the latter from the former, means for lock ing the indicating means in indicating position,

said locking means being also movable toinoperative' position to release the indicating means to operationby the calipering means, a timing 'mechanism for controlling the locking means,

said mechanism comprising a cam having connections with the locking means to control the time of operation of locking and unlocking of the indicating means, and a work coritactingnierhber arranged to ride upon the entering end of the Work and to drop oif of the rear or departing end or the work, said work contacting member having connections for causing operation of the timing mechanism with relation to the two ends of the work whereby the distance from the entering end of the work at which the indicating means is unlocked and the distance from the rear or departing end of the work at which the indicating means is locked in indicating position is predetermined through co-operation of the work contacting member and the timing mechanism.

26. In a measuring machine, a support for a piece of work to be measured, Work-contacting means for determining the measurement of a characteristic of a piece of work on the support, indicating means, connections between the workcontacting means and the indicating means for operating the latter from the former, a cam having connections with said indicating means to render the latter operative or inoperative, and a work-controlled member for initiating operation of the cam, whereby the time of operation of the indicating means is controlled both by the cam and by the work.

2'7. In a measuring machine, a support for a piece of work to be measured, means for calipering a dimension of a piece of work on the support, indicating means, connections between the calipering means and the indicating means for opcrating the latter from the former, a cam having connections with said indicating means to render thelatter operative or inoperative, and a work controlled member for initiating and terminating operations of the cam so that the time of operation of the indicating means is also controlled by the work, said cam being adjustable to vary the time of operation of the indicating means whereby the distance of the end of the work from the calipering means at the time of operation of the indicating means may be predetermined by the operator.

28. In a measuring machine, a support for a piece of work to be measured, work-contacting 'means for determining the measurement of a characteristic of a piece of work on the support, indicating means, connections between the workcontacting means and the indicating means for operating the latter from the former, means for unlocking and locking the indicating means while the piece of work is still passing through the machine, a cam having connections with the unlocking and locking means to determine the time of operation of the indicating means, and a Work contacting member for controlling the cam to determine the time of the indicating operations with respect to predetermined portions of the work.

29. In a measuring machine, a support for a piece of work to be measured, means for cooperating with the work support in engaging opposite sides of the work to caliper thickness dimensions thereof during relative movement between the work and the work calipering means, indicating means, connections between the indicating means and the work calipering means effective to cause the former to be responsive to the latter, timing mechanism, and a member adapted to contact with the work and arranged to operate through the timing mechanism for controlling the indicating means.

30. In a measuring machine, a support for a piece of work to be measured, means for cooperating withthe work support in engaging opposite sides of the work to caliper thickness dimensions thereof, means for causing relative movement between the work and the work calipering means, indicating means, connections between the indicating means and the work calipering means effective to cause the former to be responsive to the latter, timing mechanism operatively connected to the indicating means, power means for operating the timing mechanism in timed relation to the relative movement of the work and of the work calipering means, and a member arranged to contact with the work as the latter moves over the work support and having connections through the timing mechanism with indicating means for controlling the operations of the latter.

31. In a measuring machine, a support for a piece of work to be measured, means for cooperating with the work support in engaging opposite sides of the work to caliper thickness dimensions thereof during relative movement between the work and the work calipering means, indicating means, connections between the indicating means and the work calipering means effective to cause the former-to be responsiveto the latter, timing mechanism comprising a cam, means for operatively connecting the cam to the indicating means, and a member controlled by the work and arranged to cause operation of the cam for controlling the indicating means.

32. In a measuring machine, a support for a piece of work to be measured, means for operating with the work support in engaging opposite sides of the work tocaliper thickness dimensions thereof, means for causing relative;

movement between the work and the work calipering means, indicating means, connections between the indicating means and the work calipering means effective to cause the former to be responsive to the latter, timing mechanism operatively connected to the indicating means, power means for operating the timing mechanism in timed relation to the relative movement of the work and of the work measuring means, said power means comprising a clutch, and a member arranged to contact with the work as the latter moves over the work support and having connections with the clutch for controlling the clutch and, through the latter, the operations of the indicating means.

33. In a measuring machine, a support for a piece of work to be measured, means for co-opcrating with the work support in engaging opposite sides of the work to caliper thickness dimensions thereof, means for causing relative movement between the work and the work calipering means, indicating means, connections between the indicating means and the work calipering means effective to cause the former to be responsive to the latter, timing mechanism comprising a cam member arranged to be driven in timed relation to the relative movement of the work and the work calipering means, means comprising said timing mechanism and its cam member for controlling the indicating means, and a work contacting member having connections for controlling said cam member to effect operation of the indicating means at such times in the relative movement of the work and the work measuring means as may be determined by said timing mechanism and its cam member.

34. In a measuring machine, a support for a piece of work to be measured, means for cooperating with the work support in engaging opposite sides of the work to caliper thickness dimensions thereof, means for causing relative movement between the work and the work calipering means, indicating means, connections between the indicating means and the work calipering means effective to cause the former to be responsive to the latter, a timing mechanism comprising a rotary cam member arranged to be driven in timed relation to the relative movement of the work and the work calipering means, a lever controlled by said cam, means for locking and unlocking the indicating means having connections to said lever, and a member arranged to contact with the work so as to be controlled thereby and having connections arranged to initiate operation of the rotary cam member so that the indicating means may be locked or unlocked in timed relation to the movements of the work contacting member.

35.,In. a measuring machine, a support for, a piece of work to be measured, means for cooperating with the work support in engaging opposite sides of the work to caliper thickness dimensions thereof, means for causing relative movement between the work and the work calipering means, indicating means, connections between the indicating means and the work calipering means effective to cause the former to be responsive to the latter, timing mechanism comprising a cam member arranged to be driven in timed relation to the relative movement of the work and the work calipering means, means comprising said timing mechanism and its cam member for rendering the indicating means operative orinoperative, and a work contacting member having connections for effecting operation of said timing mechanism and its cam memher and thus initiating operation of the indicating means. a

tween the indicating means and the work calipering means effective to cause the formerto be responsive to the latter, a timing mechanism' comprising a cam member arranged to be driven in timed relation to the relative movement of the 'work and the work calipering means, a lever controlled by said cam, means for rendering the indicating means either operative or inoperative and having connections to said lever, and a member arranged to contact with the work so as to be controlled thereby and having connections arranged to initiate operation of the cam member so that the indicating means may be either operative or inoperative in timed relation to the movements of the work and of the work contacting member.

37. In a measuring machine, a support for a piece of work to be measured, means for cooperating with the work support in engaging op posite sides of the work to caliper thickness dimensions thereof, means for causing relative movement between. the work and the work calipering means, indicating means, connections between the indicating means and the work calipering means effective to cause the former to be responsive to the latter, a timing mechanism, connections between the timing mechanism and the indicating means, power means arranged to be driven in timed relation to the relative movement of the work and the work calipering meanaand a work contacting member arranged to be lifted from the work support by the entering end of the work and subsequently to drop off of the rear end of the work, said work contacting member having connections for causing connectionof the timing mechanism to said power means upon lifting of said member by the work and disconnection of the timing mechanism from the power means upon dropping of said member from the work, thereby to control the operation of the indicating means in timed relation to the work. 10 38. In a measuring machine, a work support, means for calipering pieces of work passing over the support, means for feeding the workover the support and past the work calipering means, in.-

dicating means, connections between the indicatl5 ing means and the work calipering means effective to cause the former tobe responsive to the latter, timing mechanism arranged tobe driven in timed relation to the work feeding means, said timing mechanism comprising a cam, connections 20 between the cam and the indicating means, and a memberarranged to be lifted by the forward end of the work as it passes over the work support and to drop ofi the rear end of the work, said work contacting member having connec- 25 tions for controlling the operation of the timing mechanism through said cam;

39. In a measuring machine, a work support, means for calipering pieces of work passing over the support, means for feeding the work over 30 the support and past the work calipering means, indicating means, connections between the indicating means and the work calipering means effective to cause the former to beresponsive to the latter, power means arranged to be driven in'35 timed relation to the work feeding means, a cam member, connections to the indicating means arranged to be operated by the cam member, a clutch for connecting and disconnecting the cam member with respect to the power means, and a 40 i work contacting member arranged to be lifted by the forward end of the work and to drop off of the rear end of the work, said work contacting member having connections to control said clutch whereby the measurement indicating means .is 45 means, means for clutching the timing mechanism to said power means, means for locking and unlocking the indicating means, connections between the locking and unlocking means and the timing mechanism whereby the latter may op- 60 erate the former, and a work contacting member arranged to be lifted by the forward end of the work and to drop on of the rear end of the work, said work contacting member having connections for controlling said clutching means. a 65 V 41. In a measuring machine, a work support, means for calipering pieces of work passing over the support, means for feeding the work over the support and past the work calipering means, indicating means, connections between the indicat- 70 ing means and the work calipering means efiec-' tive to cause the former to be responsive to the latter, power means independent of the work calipering means for controlling the indicating means, and a work contacting member arranged 76 

